Crimson Flame Blade Qi, Fourth Grade?

Three days later.

Chen Feng looked at the updated information on his status panel, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

[Your Crimson Flame Saber Art has reached mastery.]

[Your Beginner Talent Crimson Flame Saber Qi has increased in strength.]

[Beginner Talent: Crimson Flame Saber Qi (Saber Qi condensed through external martial arts saber techniques, possessing a scorching characteristic and extremely strong penetration.)]

"Crimson Flame Saber Qi!"

Chen Feng murmured softly, his eyes filled with pleasant surprise.

Then, within the courtyard, with a wave of his hand, his figure vanished from his original spot like an illusion.

A phantom saber qi fell through the air.

In that instant, a wisp of scorching saber light sliced through space.

Even faintly, it seemed as if there was a flicker of flame.

More importantly, at this moment, he could vaguely sense that within his body, there seemed to be a faint wisp of internal energy.

Chih!

As he brought his saber down, the very next moment, a stone in the courtyard was instantly pulverized by the saber qi.

Upon closer inspection, one could see a layer of blackness on the shattered stone, as if it had been scorched.

However, after unleashing this wisp of saber qi, it vanished again.

Even Chen Feng felt a hint of fatigue when he tried to sense it again.

"Is this True Qi?" His eyes held contemplation and amazement.

The power unleashed by just this wisp of saber qi felt even more potent than his own physical strength.

Based on the information he had, there were martial artists who specialized in Qi Cultivation, but they only began to touch upon True Qi at the Fourth Rank.

Yet, here he was, actually condensing saber qi while practicing an external martial arts saber technique.

This left him somewhat astonished.

However, he didn't have much information and didn't know why.

After pondering for a moment without understanding the reason, Chen Feng decided to seek out Teacher Qian Hu to inquire about the matter.

In the office, Qian Hu's eyes were filled with surprise when he saw Chen Feng unleash a wisp of saber qi.

"Saber Qi?"

"The Crimson Flame Saber Art you're practicing?"

Qian Hu looked at Chen Feng, his eyes full of astonishment.

Chen Feng nodded, "Yes, Teacher Qian."

He asked with some confusion, "I don't know what to do next. Didn't you say that Qi Cultivation martial artists also focus on tempering their bodies in the first three ranks?"

Qian Hu stood up and looked at the spot where Chen Feng's saber qi had struck, his eyes filled with a complex expression.

He then exclaimed, "That's what is generally said now."

"But you need to understand what Qi is. The initial Qi is condensed from Blood Essence."

"That's why, along the path of martial arts, even Qi Cultivation begins with Body Refining."

"And among these cultivating martial artists, there are always some with exceptional talent. Due to the strength of their physical bodies, they can condense True Qi even before their body tempering is complete."

Chen Feng asked with some confusion, "So, am I considered Fourth Rank now?"

Qian Hu said solemnly, "You are considered a weak Fourth Rank martial artist."

"After all, the most difficult part for a Fourth Rank martial artist is condensing the first wisp of True Qi."

"Once the first wisp of True Qi is condensed, opening up the Dantian Sea of Qi and unblocking the Meridians will be much easier."

Chen Feng's eyes lit up, "So that's how it is."

"Meaning, with this wisp of saber qi, I can kill martial artists below the Fourth Rank?"

Qian Hu replied, "You could say that."

"But before this wisp of saber qi erupts, its condensation speed probably isn't fast, unless you can continuously unleash it or strike a vital point of the enemy with this saber qi."

"After all, the biggest difference between Fourth Rank martial artists and Body Tempering martial artists is True Qi. Attacks with True Qi are fundamentally unstoppable by martial artists in the Lower Three Ranks, unless they possess precious armor."

Chen Feng nodded, "I understand."

Qian Hu hesitated for a moment, then said, "You are still in the Lower Three Ranks. I suggest you carefully consider your future path."

"If you have talent in Qi Cultivation, you can choose the path of Qi Cultivation. This is the most stable path, free from the influence of demonic aura and souls, with much less risk."

Chen Feng heard this and asked, "Can't I cultivate both?"

Qian Hu shook his head, "It's very difficult."

"The path of Demonic Cultivation through body refining can itself be considered a form of Demonic Cultivation Path."

"Refining demon essence blood, even transforming the physical body towards that of a demon, and refining demon souls."

"My own thoughts and physical body have likely already been influenced by the demons."

"It can be considered a type of External Path, using external forces to modify and control one's own physical body."

"As for Qi Cultivation, it's more akin to meditation and cultivation, absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, relying more on comprehension."

"If both are cultivated simultaneously, there's no way to have enough mental capacity for comprehension of heaven and earth."

As Chen Feng listened to Teacher Qian Hu's explanation, various thoughts flashed through his mind, and he spoke with contemplation in his eyes, "So that's how it is."

"I still want to try."

Qian Hu pondered for a moment and said, "You can try it."

"There have been Martial Artists with exceptional talent who have attempted to cultivate Body Refining and Qi Cultivation simultaneously. However, in the later stages, they eventually focus on only one path." Chen Feng's eyes held contemplation. So that's how it is.

What he lacked the most now was a cultivation technique for Qi Cultivation.

Based on a Qi Cultivation technique, he could cultivate True Qi.

If that were the case, he would have effectively bypassed the first three stages of Body Tempering.

Chen Feng was contemplating his future path.

At this moment, Qian Hu could naturally sense some of Chen Feng's thoughts.

After a moment of thought, he took out a white jade pendant and a box from his storage bag, saying, "This is a Spirit Warming Jade, it can accelerate a Martial Artist's speed of absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, increasing it by about twenty percent."

"And here are five Spirit Stones, you can take them and try cultivating."

"As for cultivation techniques, I suggest you go to the Scripture Pavilion of the academy. Those techniques that can be displayed there have all undergone various tests and have been recognized through cultivation."

"You can choose according to your own ideas."

"As for points, you will need to earn them yourself."

Chen Feng looked at the items in Qian Hu's hands, his eyes showing some surprise, "Teacher Qian, these items are too precious."

On the market, treasures that can improve cultivation speed like this are worth at least tens of thousands of taels of silver, and the exchange price for a Spirit Stone is also thousands of taels of silver.

He hadn't expected Teacher Qian Hu to give him so many things directly.

Qian Hu smiled upon hearing this, "They aren't precious. Consider this my personal investment in you. As long as you can grow, killing a few more demons will be enough."

Chen Feng took a breath and replied, "I will."

"Teacher Qian Hu, your investment will not be in vain."

After saying goodbye to Qian Hu, Chen Feng headed directly towards the academy's Wind and Cloud Tower.

Currently, the fastest way to obtain more points is to challenge the Wind and Cloud Ranking.